Metal-sheathed structure



May l5, 1928.

' v J. LEvlNE METAL SHEATHED STRUCTUREI Filed June 22. 1927 Patented May 15,. '1928.'

UNITED .STATES PATENT .ol-Fics JOSEPH LEVINE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MET-L-WOOD CORPORATION, .Ol CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

METAL-SHEATHED STRUCTURE.

Application filed June 22, 1927. Serial No. 200,548.

This invention relates to metal sheathed structures.

In the art relating to metal sheathedboards or-panels wherein a steel sheet 1s gluedto the flat surfaceof the panel, someilhculty has been encountered' in successfullyprpducing bends or corners in the panels where necessary, while preservin the continuity of the v'metal sheathing. i common practice has been to cut out the wood or other brous material of which the panel is composed from its surface opposite to that tov Awhich the steel sheet or veneer is attached down to the inner surface of the steel sheathling, and then bend the steel sheet to form the necessary corner. In this way the corner or angle may be formed, but ya crevice is produced by the cut-out which rendersthe steel sheet accessible to moisture which may enter through the crevice, resulting in corrosin of the steel sheet and looseningof the glue bond between the inner surface `of the steel sheet and the adjoining cut-outedges of the panel',` and this disadvantage is especially marked .when the metal veneered panel 'is use-d in the construction of refrigerators orthe like where moisture is present in large vmeeting edges of the .walls of the panel arey quantities I j An object of this invention is to provide a structure in which corners or angular bends are produced in such manner as to insulate the inner surface of the steel sheet,'and the glue bond, against the entrance 0f moisture, which is accomplished through the medium of a continuous protective layer of material which is placed next to the steel sheet and spans the cut-out which is necessary in forming the corner, and further, to interpose between the steel sheet and the protective layer of metal, a sheet of fabric which is co-extensive ,with the protective layer and assists the latter in its protective function, said fabric layer being of suchcharacter as to conlpensate for the different rates of expansion" and contraction of the woo-d and metal sheet whichY tends to sever the bond therebetween.

Another object of the invention is to provide a corner lconstruction `in which: the.` free secured in\ such manner as to insulatethe jointA from the inner side thereof to protect sheets and the adjacent portions of the panel vsheathed board or panel showing the corner constructions contemplated byl this invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary .sectional view of a portion of the panel .prior to the formation of a corner therein. Figure 3 isA a cross sectional view of a portion of the panel showing the completed corner construction. And Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of a corner construction wherein the free edges of the panel are secured together.

As shown in the drawings, 10 designates as a whole a cross sectional fragmentary view 0f a rectangular structure, having walls 11, 12, 13 and 14, formed from a continuous veneered panel, the wall 12 being connected with the walls 11 and 13 by corner constructions indicated at 15 and 16, and the wall 11 being connected with the wall 14 by a corner construction similar to the corner con# structions 15 and 16, While the free ends of the walls 13 and 14 are connected together -by a corner construction 17.

, The rectangular structure 10 is preferably made up from a single continuous panel of the desired length and width, and said panel prior to formation into the rectangular structureis Hat. The panel as shown consists of a continuous sheet of steel of suitable gauge indicated at 18, a layer of fabric 19 disposed adjacent the steel sheet 18 a layer of wood 20, and other layers of wood 21 and 22, the layers 20, 21 and 22 Ibeing commercially obtainable already glued together. The fabric 19 is preferably of a character having a nap or pile, such as flannel, and is interposed between the layer 20 and the steel sheet 18, and the latter, thefabricand layer 20, are permanently bonded together by the inter-position of suitable adhesive substance such as glue, the fabric due to its peculiar nature having the function of compensating for the different rates of expansion and contraction of the/woodand steel tending to sever the bond.

- As before stated, the corner constructions j are similar and a detailed descriptionof one will suffice for the others. In forming each f bent portion 24 of the layer 20, and interposed between the integral bent portion 24 and the integral bent portion 26 of the steel sheet, is the integral bent portion 25 of the fabric. In this manner the continuity of the steel sheet 18 is preserved throughout, as well as the continuity of the fabric 19 and the adjacent layer 20 of the wood, and the crevice which is necessarily present due to the eut-outportions -is prevented from af- Jlording access of moisture to the steel Veneer or, sheet 18 which cause corrosion thereof and loosen the bond between the steel sheet, the fabric, and the wood'layers 20,

21 and 22.

The layers 20, 21 and 22 at the corner`17 vare beveled as indicated at.28, and the fabric layer 19 has its opposite ends 29 and 30 overlapped. 'llhe free ends of the steel sheet 18 are provided with extensions 31 Fand 32 which are curled and inter-engaged to provide a seam indicated at 33 which secures the free ends of the panel together. In this arrangement the overlapping ends of the fabric prevent access of moisture from the inner surface of the anel to the seam 33.

While I have hereln shown andv described what I consider the preferred manner of car- ,scope of the rying out the invention, the same is merely illustrative, and I contemplate all changes and modifications which come/ within the claims appended hereto.r

Iclai'm: f 1. In a structure ofjthe characterl de# scribed,l comprising a'metallic sheet having integral portions extending at an angle to 4each other, of, a body portion comprising a plurality of layers, certain of said layers re` mote from said metallic sheet being cut out to form a corner, and one of said layers extending continuously between said rst layers and said sheet, and spanning the cutout portions of said first layers, and a layer of fabric interposed between said continuous layer and said metallic sheet, said fabric being provided with a pile (or nap to compensate for the dierent rates of expansion and contraction of said metallic sheet and ysaid layers of material.'

2. In a structure of the character described, the combination with a continuous metallic sheet having a plurality of corners formed therein; of a body portion .of different material having parts secured to the inner surfaces of the angular portions of said metallic sheet, 'said parts having portions cut out at the corners; and insulating,

means interposed between said metallic sheet and the parts of said body portion, said means spanning the junctures of the cut out portions of the parts of the body portion at tending at an angle to each other and having their free ends;y joined together to provide a corner; of body portions comprising a plup rality of layers, each of said portions having their meeting edges "abutting to provide av corner, there being fabric layer` portions spanning the abutting edges of said body portions and the connected edges of said metallic I portions, and being interposed between said metallic portions andthe remaining layers of said body portions. Q

f witness thatA I claim the foregoing I have' hereunto subscribed my name this 14th day of June 1927. 'w

"'JosErH LnvINE. 

